Navigating First Light in Provincetown

Howard Karren

Thursday

Dec 27, 2018 at 1:00 AM

Taking in First Light in Provincetown is always a bit mad. It’s crisp and cold outside, and after you find a cozy spot on this glacial sand deposit sticking out in the Atlantic Ocean, you can make a toast to the promise of renewal in the New World, a tradition that began nearly 400 years ago. You’ll have a whole weekend to do it, too. The following is a guide to scheduled events and offerings.

Friday, Dec. 28

Enjoy festive drinks from 5 p.m. at Shipwreck Lounge at 10 Carver St. At Gifford House, across the way at 9 Carver St., the Porchside Bar is open from 5 p.m. and, from 9:30 p.m., so is Club Purgatory (with a separate entrance on Bradford St.). At Atlantic House (4-6 Masonic Place), the Little Bar is open from noon, and the Macho Bar upstairs and Dance Club, with music by DJ David LaSalle, both open at 10 p.m. At Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial St.), watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars” at Wave Bar at 7 p.m. with Thirsty Burlington and Bang, then join Thirsty for Drag Bingo at the Paramount at 8 p.m. At Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial St.) from 9 p.m. to midnight, Jon Richardson is at the piano. At The Canteen (225 Commercial St.), enjoy chalet-style dining at the Winter Lodge pop-up from 5 to 10 p.m. And if you want to catch a movie, “Mary Queen of Scots” is at Waters Edge Cinema (237 Commercial St.) at 7 p.m. and “Vice” at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. ($12-$8 at watersedgecinema.org). Also at the cinema, there’s a free reception and screening of the short “Because You’re Here” at 5 p.m., followed by a Q and A with the filmmaker and town crier Kenny Lonergan.

Saturday, Dec. 29

A European-style Holiday Market, with local artisans, hot food and drinks and, yes, ice skating, awaits you behind The Canteen (225 Commercial St.) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Little Bar at A-House (4-6 Masonic Place) opens at noon. Drag Bingo returns to the Paramount at Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial St.) at 3:30 p.m., a benefit for Provincetown Business Guild, which organizes First Light weekend. The Shipwreck Lounge (10 Carver St.) comes alive at 5 p.m., as does Winter Lodge at The Canteen (225 Commercial St.). Suede will be at the Paramount at Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial St.) at 7:30 p.m. ($30-$50 at onlyatthecrown.com). Also at the Crown: VJ Tom Vaz is at Wave Bar, Bobby Wetherby is at the piano at Dive Bar, and the Vault opens, all from 9 p.m. with no cover. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. for the Leather District party at the Paramount, with music by Morabito, $10. Marti Gould Cummings is at Pilgrim House (336 Commercial St.) at 7:30 p.m. ($20-$30, pilgrimhouseptown.com). Fag Bash begins at Club Purgatory (Branford and Carver Streets) at 9:30 p.m., and at A-House (4-6 Masonic Place), the Macho Bar and Dance Club open at 10 p.m. Waters Edge Cinema (237 Commercial St.) will screen “Mary Queen of Scots” at 1, 4 and 7 p.m., and “Vice” at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. ($12-$8 at watersedgecinema.org).

Sunday, Dec. 30

Once again, the Holiday Market at The Canteen (225 Commercial St.) is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Winter Lodge dining from 5 to 10 p.m. The Little Bar opens at noon at the A-House (4-6 Masonic Place). Kids of all ages can enjoy Drag Story Time with Roxy Pops at 1:30 p.m. at Provincetown Public Library (356 Commercial St.). Kevin Quill is at the piano bar from 4 to 7 p.m. at Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial St.), followed by Gerald Goode from 8 to 11 p.m. The main event on Sunday is the First Light Fireworks, off of MacMillan Pier at 5:30 p.m. You can watch the light show for free from the beach, or, starting at 4 p.m. (reservations required), at Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial St.), which is hosting a Cocktail Party ($25; 508-487-1648), or Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (1 High Pole Hill Road), which is having a fund-raising Champagne Reception, with oysters and hors d’oeuvres ($50, pilgrim-monument.org). Post-fireworks, there is entertainment aplenty. At Crown & Anchor (237 Commercial St.), “The Dina Martina Christmas Show” is at 7:30 (sold out) and 9:15 p.m. ($30, onlyatthecrown.com); Bobby Wetherbee is at the piano at Dive Bar and VJ Tom Yaz is at Wave Bar from 9 p.m., both no cover. Marti Gould Cummings is at Pilgrim House (336 Commercial St.) at 7:30 p.m. ($20-$30, pilgrimhouseptown.com). The pop-classical string quartet Well-Strung is at Provincetown Town Hall performing “Home for the Holidays” at 8:30 p.m. ($35-$75, provincetownarthouse.com). At A-House (4-6 Masonic Place), the Macho Bar and Dance Club both open at 10 p.m. It’s Underwear/Leather night at Club Purgatory (Bradford and Carver Streets) from 9:30 p.m. At Waters Edge Cinema (237 Commercial St.), “Mary Queen of Scots” screens at 1, 4 and 7 p.m., and “Vice” at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. ($12-$8 at watersedgecinema.org).

Monday, Dec. 31

Families are invited to the Provincetown Public Library (356 Commercial St.) at 3 p.m. to illuminate your bikes and helmets for the Light Bright Bike Ride, which starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Johnson Street parking lot (on Commercial Street) and ends at Joe’s Coffee (170 Commercial St.) around 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the most creative use of lights, and hot drinks will be available to participants. At night, New Year’s Eve festivities get in high gear. From 5 p.m. on, enjoy drinks and buffoonery at the Shipwreck Lounge (10 Carver St.) and Porchside Bar at Gifford House (9 Carver St.). New Year’s feasts will be served at restaurants all over town, including Spindler’s (386 Commercial St.), The Pointe (82 Bradford St.), Pilgrim House (336 Commercial St.), Mac’s Fish House (85 Shank Painter Road), Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial St.), Strangers & Saints (404 Commercial St.), Victor’s (175 Bradford Street Extension) and Fanizzi’s (539 Commercial St.). Reservations are a must. You can also sing in the New Year at piano bars, all with no cover: Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial St.) features Terri Conti from 6 to 9 p.m. and Jon Richardson from 9:30 p.m. till 2019; and at the Crown & Anchor’s Dive Bar (247 Commercial St.), Bobby Wetherbee is at the piano from 10 p.m. For a different kind of singing, there’s Drag Karaoke at the Governor Bradford (312 Commercial St.) from 9:30 p.m. on. VJ Tom Yaz will be at the Crown & Anchor’s Wave Bar (247 Commercial St.) from 9 p.m. And finally, there are the dance clubs. The Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial St.) features the beats of DJ Chris Racine for “Resolution 2019,” from 9 p.m. The New Year’s party at Club Purgatory (Bradford and Carver Streets) opens at 10 p.m., and A-House (4-6 Masonic Place) counts down with DJ David LaSalle at 10 p.m. Waters Edge Cinema is closed for the day.

Tuesday, Jan. 1

On the first day of 2019, things start with a splash. At 11 a.m. at the Johnson Street parking lot (on Commercial St.), you can watch some brave, pre-registered folks take the Polar Bear Plunge into Provincetown Harbor, a fund-raiser for the Center for Coastal Studies. Then sample the Breakfast Buffet at Fanizzi’s (539 Commercial St.), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or enjoy brunch at the Crown & Anchor (247 Commercial St.) from 11 a.m. The Little Bar at A-House (4-6 Masonic Place) is open at noon, Kevin Quill is at the piano at Tin Pan Alley (269 Commercial St.) from 6 to 9 p.m., and Waters End Cinema (237 Commercial St.) is back open for screenings — “Mary Queen of Scots” at 1, 4 and 7 p.m., and “Vice” at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. ($12-$8 at watersedgecinema.org). With the party mostly over, it’s time to face the resolutions of the New Year.

Holiday parking: Town lots are open and free all weekend. Absolutely no parking or stopping in Lopes Square. Please follow temporary parking restrictions on Commercial Street between Court and Johnson Streets from Thursday to Tuesday. Violators will be tagged and towed.